http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2215486.jpg> Army Reserve Spc. Chasity Kuczer aims an arrow during the Army Trials for the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games March 31, 2015 at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, March 31, 2015. Athletes in the trials competed for a spot on the Army's team in the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games. DoD photo by EJ Hersom

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – A Warrior Games gold medal in archery has for the first time been awarded to a female competitor, June 22.

Army Reserve Spc. Chasity Kuczer won two golds, including highest individual scorer overall in archery.

"It was amazing [to beat the men]," said Kuczer, who is assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Knox, Ky.

"I was nervous at first," she added, "but I just kept going and then the better my score was, the more confident I got. ... I did it one arrow at a time and doing my best came through."

During the finals, Kuczer was two points ahead until a male challenger scored a 10.

"I had one that was right on the line at the end where I would've had a three-point lead, but I got a 9 and he got a 10, but I was still a point ahead," she said.
"She was amazing," Army coach Jessie White said of Kuczer's performance. "We knew she could shoot well. She's got a natural talent and ability and she just held her own, didn't back down and did what she came to do."

Growing Up Shooting

During her childhood in Seymour, Wisconsin, Kuczer said she practically grew up with a bow in one hand and a shotgun in the other.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2215488.jpg> Army veteran Staff Sgt. Billy Meeks congratulates his teammate, Army Reserve Spc. Chasity Kuczer on her win during the archery competition at the 2015 DoD Warrior Games at Marine Corp Base Quantico, Va., June 22, 2015. Meeks earned a silver medal in the recurve competition, and Kuczer earned the gold medal in the compound. Meeks also earned a gold medal on the Army Team for recurve and Kuczer earned a gold medal on the Army Team for compound. DoD photo by Shannon Collins

"I did archery competitions; I went to nationals in 2010 for trap, skeet and sporting clays," she said. "I also went to nationals for archery in 2008. I was the top-four in the state and then the top-25 percent at nationals."

For shooting competitions, Kuczer said she used .22-caliber rifles. She also loved to shoot skeet, but said it's now difficult to do so because of her injury.

Injury and Recovery

Kuczer works on both the electrical and mechanical systems of trains in the Army Reserve. Because of her work on the trains, lifting heavy objects and going up and down steps, she suffered a bilateral labral tear and had to have surgeries on her hips.

"I have problems with my hips, sciatica, nerve damage and problems with my lower back," she said.

The hardest part for Kuczer, as she recovered from her surgeries, was not being outdoors.

"The surgeries kind of put me back, but adaptive sports at the WTB made me realize I can do other events. I can still be very active and partake in other sports," she said. "I just needed to stay strong and positive."

Kuczer was all smiles during the Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Tex., as she earned her first gold medal in the women's compound bow competition.

She also won swimming golds in the women's classified 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke, 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter freestyle.

She is also competing for the Army team in air rifle, seated shot put and discus, swimming, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball at the Warrior Games.

"The DoD Warrior Games is the most positive thing to come out of my injury so far," Kuczer said. "It's given me a new outlook on everything. I'm actually smiling. I'm meeting people with similar injuries, and I'm competing again. It's like a cherry on top of a sundae. It's great."

- Shannon Collins, DoD News, Defense Media Activity